AGE-DETERMINATION AND GROWTH OF SQUALUS-BLAINVILLEI (RISSO, 1826)

During 13 trawl surveys carried out in the Sicilian Channel between 19 85 and 1991, about 2300 specimens of Squalus blainvillei were caught. Ages were determined by examination of vertebrae, and growth parameter s were estimated by a statistical fit to the Von Bertanlaffy function. The estimated growth parameters are L(infinity) = 117.9 cm, k = 0.102 and t(0) = -1.380 for females, and L(infinity) = 96.0 cm, k = 0.135 a nd t(0) = -1.397 for males. The length-weight relationship (W = aL(b)) and maturity stages were determined separately for each sex: for fema les a = 0.0037 and b = 3.0688, for males a = 0.0033 and b = 3.0919. Th e analysis of sexual maturity revealed that reproduction takes place t hroughout the year.